Syrian Independent Media Poses Daring Counter to Extremist Ideologies
In the heart of Idlib province, Radio Fresh continues to broadcast Quranic texts, prayers, and religious programs, serving as a symbol of community empowerment. This radio station is one of the activities of the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus (URB), a grassroots organization established in Kafranbel in 2012 by Raed al-Fares and Khaled al-Issa. The URB currently employs 475 individuals with various offices that focus on enhancing education and empowering women and children.
However, the peaceful mission of Radio Fresh and the URB has faced challenges. Al-Nusra, an influential force in Syria, has emerged with a goal to overthrow the current government and create an Islamic Emirate under Sharia law. This group has used Islam and Quranic texts to oppress people and impose strict social values, causing a wave of protests across Idlib, including Maraat al-Numan, Khan Shaykhoun, Salqueen, and others.
On January 10, 2016, the Nusra Front stormed the headquarters of Radio Fresh in Kafranbel, Syria and arrested its director Raed al-Fares and journalist Hadi Abdullah. The raid was in response to a post on al-Fares' Facebook page criticizing certain practices and the imposition of Sharia law. Al-Nusra had to admit that raiding the station was a mistake and promised to return all their equipment.
The attack on Radio Fresh generated a strong reaction on social media, with solidarity posts proliferating on activists' pages and calls for "Freedom for Radio Fresh" and "No Media Oppression." Raed al-Fares launched a campaign to raise awareness of basic human rights and against religious extremists' practices.
This was not the first time al-Nusra has attacked the station. In January 2015, they raided a number of URB's offices and continuously harassed and interfered in civilian affairs. Such raids by armed groups typically disrupt local independent media, causing fear, censorship, or shutdowns, which harm the community's access to free information. Activists often respond by documenting abuses, calling for international support, and attempting to preserve independent voices through alternative channels or underground efforts.
Five years into the revolution, people in Maraat al-Numan demonstrated against al-Nusra and called for its departure. The campaign used female voices to challenge extremist rules on women's dress code and education. Despite attempts to arrest and kill him by al-Nusra and IS, Raed al-Fares believes that the values and cause of Radio Fresh and the URB will always live on.
In neighbouring Raqqa, residents are resisting IS by not swearing allegiance and paying for social services and additional taxes. As the struggle for freedom and self-determination continues, the resilience and determination of the people of Idlib, as exemplified by Radio Fresh and the URB, serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Syrian revolution.
Given the ongoing struggles in Idlib province, the discussions in general news, politics, and crime-and-justice sectors have increasingly focused on the clashes between local communities and extremist groups like al-Nusra and IS. The attacks on Radio Fresh, an independent media station, and the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus (URB) by these groups are indicative of the challenges faced by civil society in asserting basic human rights and promoting community empowerment in war-and-conflicts zones. Despite these challenges, the resilience and determination of activists like Raed al-Fares and others continue to uphold the values and cause of free information and self-determination.
